Noblesville, Ind.- (5-8-22) The University of Findlay men’s golf team concluded the 2022 NCAA DII Midwest/Central Regional, today May 7, at Purgatory Golf Club. Due to weather, the tournament schedule was jumbled in order to get the 54-holes of stroke play completed. The area had two inches of rain this week making the course conditions tough for the Oilers. However, they battled back to finish in a tie for fifth and punching their ticket to the 2022 NCAA Division II National Championship.

Findlay Head Coach, Dominic Guarnieri–

“It was a total team effort. This is a testament to the time and effort they have put in. Not only the five men who traveled but all seventeen of them. It was a hard week on the course but they never stopped fighting. Coach Roth and I are so proud of them… we made history today!”

The Oilers finished at 32-over par with rounds of 297, 298, and 301. They edged out McKendree University by two strokes to make their first appearance in the NCAA Division II National Championship in the NCAA era. Joining the Oilers at the National Championship from the Midwest/Central region are Grand Valley State University, Central Missouri University, Arkansas Tech, the University of Indianapolis, and the University of Missouri- St. Louis.

This is the first trip to the NCAA Division II National Championship as the last time the Oilers made it to a national tournament it was the NAIA Golf Championship in 1999. In fact, on May 7, 2014 the University of Findlay women’s golf team made the NCAA Division II National Championship for the first time… their regional was held at Purgatory Golf Club.

The Oilers are now headed to Detroit, Mich. for the NCAA Division II National Championship which will be held at TPC Michigan on May 16-20.

Did you know…

Dominic’s dad, Big Ralph, was the long time voice of St. Marys football on Celina radio station K94.

Bio

Guarnieri has had success during his long tenure as a student-athlete and coach at UF.

Dominic Guarnieri is entering his ninth season at the helm of the Oilers men and women’s golf programs during the 2021-22 campaign.

During his time with the Oilers, Guarnieri has experienced great success. He was named the Women’s Golf East Region Coach of the Year in 2019 after leading the Oilers to their first regional title and has earned Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Women’s Golf Coach of the Year honors three times (2018, 2019, 2021) and Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Women’s Golf Coach of the Year twice (2015, 2017) as well. He has also led the women’s program to five, top-10 finishes at the NCAA Division II National Championship. His women’s team has also captured two G-MAC titles (2018, 2019) and one GLIAC title (2017). On the men’s side, Guarnieri earned G-MAC Coach of the Year honors in 2018 after leading the program to a G-MAC championship.

Great individual success has come under Guarnieri’s watch as well. The women’s team has had three G-MAC Golfer of the Year awards, one GLIAC Golfer of the Year, eight all-Americans, 18 all-region, and 30 all-conference players during his short time with the program. The men’s team meanwhile has had 12 players earn all-league honors to go along with two all-region picks, and an all-Ameircan.

During the 2020-21 campaign, the Oilers women’s golf team reached match play at the NCAA Division II National Championship and finished tied for fifth overall. They won a G-MAC title and finished the year ranked fourth in the nation. The men’s team meanwhile advanced to the regional and were nationally ranked for the majority of the season.

Before the 2019-20 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oilers golf programs each reached their highest national rankings in program history. Findlay’s women were ranked as high as third in the country during the season and were the favorites to win their third consecutive G-MAC championship. The men were ranked 22nd in the country, the first time the program had cracked the national poll, and were also ranked second in the region.

In 2018-19, Guarnieri led the Oilers women’s golf team to a fifth place finish at the NCAA Division II National Championship, their highest ever. They were eighth after 54-holes of stroke play and fell 3-2 in match play to eventual national champion, Florida Southern. The women’s team also captured the program’s first regional title and won the G-MAC Championship as well. The men meanwhile finished as the runner-up at the conference championship and eventually took 18th at the regional.

During the 2017-18 campaign, Guarnieri led both programs to conference titles and appearances in the NCAA regional. The men’s appearance in the regional tournament was their first since qualifying during the 2011-12 campaign.

In 2016-17, Guarnieri led the women’s team to a conference title and the men meanwhile earned their first medalist honor since 2014.

In 2015-16, Guarnieri led the women’s team to a runner-up finish at the GLIAC Championship. They then went on to take third at the NCAA DII East Regional before taking ninth at the NCAA DII National Championship. He also led the men’s team to a tenth place finish at the league championship.

During the 2014-15 campaign, Guarnieri led the women’s team to a second place finish at the GLIAC Championship and NCAA DII East Regional. The team qualified for nationals, where they placed eighth. He also led the men’s squad to a 12th place finish at the conference championship.

In 2013-14, Guarnieri coached the women’s team to a third place finish at both the league championship and regional. The team later finished seventh at the NCAA DII National Championship, their highest finish ever. He also led the men’s team to an 11th place finish at the GLIAC Championship.

Guarnieri was named head coach at the University of Findlay on July 10, 2013.  He took over for retired head coach Al Baker, who led both programs for 21 years.  He had been serving as an assistant on Baker’s staff during the 2012-13 season.

Guarnieri was a four-year letter winner for the Oilers from 2002-05 and became a graduate assistant coach with the program after his career was over.  While serving as a graduate assistant coach from 2005-07, Guarnieri earned his master’s of business degree with an emphasis in organizational leadership.

After receiving his graduate degree, Guarnieri became an assistant golf coach at St. Marys Memorial High School for one year before taking over the head coaching position for two years.  In his second year, he led the team to their only conference tournament win in school history.

A graduate of St. Marys Memorial, Guarnieri has had a successful playing career as he was the 2010 and 2012 Mercer County Elks Club champion. He also was the 2011 Findlay Country Club champion and was named the 2011 TDGA Player of the Year.

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